Body found Waikato River likely to be missing Korean woman

The police dive squad searches for the driver of the vehicle which crashed through the bridge's railings. Photo / Christine Cornege

Police have recovered a body thought to be that of a missing Korean woman whose car plunged into the Waikato River nearly two months ago.

Eunki Kim, 40, has been missing since June 6, when her car collided with Pukete Bridge and plunged 18 metres into the Waikato River.

Auckland police staff recovered the body of a woman from the river near Mercer on July 23.

They were awaiting the results of forensic tests to determine whether the identity of the body.

Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said police are communicating with Mrs Kim's family as they wait for the test results.

"Mrs Kim's family were informed of the body's recovery and the challenges associated with identifying who it is last week and they have been assisting police with our enquiries throughout."

Mrs Kim was last seen by a witness struggling in the river near her car.

An extensive land and water search failed to find her body.

Police recovered her empty vehicle 40 metres downstream from the bridge.